Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the serious breakdown problems emerging with the new inter urban train fleet; the cost per new train; the overall cost of the extra Dublin-Cork fleet in the Transport 21 budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39948/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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48 of the 67 new rail carriages purchased for the Dublin-Cork inter-city railway service have now entered service. I understand from Iarnród Éireann that the balance will enter service during December 2006 and that it intends to introduce hourly clock face departures on the route from 14 January 2007. I also understand that the testing and commissioning of the new fleet has gone well and that, apart from a problem that is being addressed in relation to ride quality, no other fleet wide issues or technical failures have occurred. I understand from Iarnród Éireann that, as part of its commissioning and in service testing of the new fleet, it discovered that the ride quality did not meet the specification due to problems with the air suspension. I am informed that this is currently being rectified by the suppliers at their expense and that it is not preventing the operation of the carriages. I understand that the final contract price will not exceed the overall approved cost for the 67 carriages of €117m.

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 347: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of new trains put into operation by Irish Rail since 2002; the amount spent on such trains; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39960/06]

Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Transport the number of new carriages put into operation on the Irish Rail network since 2002; the cost of these carriages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39961/06]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 347 and 348 together.

I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that the number of new trains and carriages that it has put into service since 2002 and that it has currently under order are as follows: